HAL YEAGER/Associated PressAlabama basketball coach Anthony Grant directs the Crimson Tide during its victory over LSU on Wednesday.AUBURN -- Anthony Grant can tick off the rivalries he's been a part of in his years as a coach: Florida-Florida State, Florida-Kentucky, Virginia Commonwealth-Old Dominion.

After today, he can add Auburn-Alabama to the list.

The Tide and its first-year coach meet the Tigers at 3 p.m. today at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum. The game will be televised on SEC Network stations.

"(Rivalries) are a lot of fun to be a part of," Grant said. "There's obviously a lot of emotion and drama involved in the buildup. I think that it's great for the game when you get that type of passion."

Alabama (13-7, 3-3 SEC) has won two consecutive games on the strength of its stingy defense, while Auburn (10-11, 1-5) has struggled in that area, most recently in an 84-74 loss to Ole Miss on Thursday night.

The quick turnaround offers few opportunities for coach Jeff Lebo to add new wrinkles.

"We've had a two- or three-minute stretch where we let games get away from us," Lebo said. "We've been in every one of our games. It's been frustrating for the kids, frustrating for the coaches. We know we can play with them, but we've had those lulls offensively and defensively where we let a game get away from us."

MARK ALMOND/Birmingham NewsAuburn coach Jeff Lebo watches the Tigers during their loss to Ole Miss on Thursday.Lebo, whose job security could become an issue if Auburn continues to struggle in his sixth season at the helm, is 5-5 against Alabama but has won five of his past six against former Alabama coach Mark Gottfried. The Tigers swept the season series last year.

Grant and Lebo have never coached against each other, although Lebo said he has "followed" Grant's career and been impressed with his impact on Alabama's defense.

"Defensively, they've been very solid," Lebo said. "He has the kids really buying into defending."

The Tide has allowed only six 3-pointers in the past three games, an astounding feat that has to concern the Tigers, who are generally reliant on their perimeter game.

"They're more guard-oriented, so we're going to have to do a great job of trying to take away the 3-point shot, trying to contain them off the dribble," Grant said. "Coach Lebo does a very good job of mixing up his schemes, so we've got to be prepared for the adjustments and different looks that they may throw at us and be ready to take away their strengths with our defense."

Auburn will honor its 1985 SEC tournament championship team before the game. Coach Sonny Smith and every player from the team -- including Chuck Person, Chris Morris and others -- will be recognized during halftime ceremonies.

That team won four games in four days at the SEC tournament, culminating in a 53-49 win over Alabama in Birmingham. The Tigers beat Purdue and Kansas before falling to North Carolina in the Sweet 16. (Lebo joined the Tar Heels as a freshman point guard one season later.)

The first 1,000 fans at today's game will receive a 1985 team pennant.